The beloved physician Luke shared how “Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands. Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things”, and in chapter seventeen and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared God, “has made of one blood all nations of men” where we read:
And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth,
and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
The verse begins, “And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, ...” Luke began with the words, “and has made of one blood” which means “and has produced and constructed from only one single blood or kindred” “all nations of men” or “each, every, the whole and everyone of the tribes, people groups and individuals of people both male and female” “for to dwell” which means “to settle, inhabit and live” “on all the face of the earth” or “upon each, every, the whole and everywhere upon the arable land, territory and region of the world”. Luke shared how “Paul” referred to how “God the Heavenly Father” created all people who live throughout the whole world from “one blood”.
The verse goes on to say, “.... and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;” Luke continued with the words, “and has determined the times” or “and defined, appointed and marked out boundaries and limits” “before appointed” which means “which was pre-arranged and prescribed”, “and the bounds of their habitation” or “as well as the laying down of limits and boundary lines belonging to the people's dwelling places, abodes and residences”. Luke shared how “Paul” said “God” had “pre-arranged” not only the “boundaries and limits” of the “times” of people, but also the “lines” wherein they would live.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “God” was involved not only in the creation of mankind, but also where they would live. God knows everyone, and He created them for His pleasure. (See Revelation 4:11) He desires to live eternally with every person, and for that to be possible, their sins must be removed. He is a “Holy God”, and He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price of death on the cross so the sins of mankind may be forgiven. Anyone who yields to Jesus not only aligns with God's original design for people to be with Him forever, but also fulfills the reason God sent His Son Jesus to the world.
Next time Luke shares how people, “should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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